origins

noun

plural of origin
1
as in sources
a point or place at which something is invented or provided the origins of human language remain a matter of considerable debate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in roots
the source from which something grows or develops the origin of the tradition of giving presents at Christmastime

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in lineages
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended they could trace their origins back 15 generations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of origins Athena Bitzis, now 54, of Stone Mountain, performed in the opening ceremony, portraying one of the muses in a segment honoring the ancient origins of the Olympic movement. — Andrea Clement, AJC.com, 17 July 2026 Bone Thugs’ origins are filled with tales of street violence, systemic poverty and simply learning how to survive in that kind of environment. — Kyle Eustice, VIBE.com, 17 July 2026 Its origins, however, date back to the end of the Middle Preclassic period, around 500-400 BCE. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 17 July 2026 The debate about the origins of the Iliad and the Odyssey is almost as old as the poems themselves. — Literary Hub, 17 July 2026 While the landslide in Coughlin appears to have been caused by a smaller impact nearby, the other five have less certain origins. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 16 July 2026 Although the origins of the brooch itself are still unknown, the meaning behind the moonstone could indicate reflection, celebration or various attributes Queen Camilla wanted to emphasize at Wednesday’s event. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 15 July 2026 The sweet discovery shows for the first time that compounds that are key to life can form in the vast expanse between stars and fuels optimism that other molecules important for the origins of life might be found in space. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 14 July 2026 Its origins are from Siberia, so here’s to hoping Kelce got it back in the A/C PDQ. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for origins
  1. sources
  2. roots
  3. lineages
  4. cradles
  5. beginnings
  6. ancestries
  7. pedigrees
  8. genealogies
Noun
  • Early reports described the romance as casual, but by the end of 2025, sources close to the couple told People that their relationship had become serious and committed.
    — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
  • Trump is also not expected to get involved in the extradition case, two sources familiar with the matter earlier told CNN.
    — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Definition of sources
Noun
  • While its roots go back to Don the Beachcomber in Hollywood in the 1930s, tiki culture blossomed after World War II, when American soldiers came back from the Pacific theater with stories of tropical islands.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026
  • The iconic convenience store chain anchored in the East has roots that stretch back to a Pennsylvania dairy store in 1902.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
Definition of roots
Noun
  • The research team, led by Ellie Bourgikos and Nathan Grubaugh at the Yale School of Public Health, estimates that one of the virus’s two major lineages arrived in the Northeast by the early 1700s.
    — John Drake, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • Because everyone will have access to the same information, AI will accentuate the value of personal connections, again promoting lineages and networks that at their most extreme may appear to be sinister establishment conspiracies.
    — Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
Definition of lineages
Noun
  • Egypt, one of the word’s cradles of civilization, is also a vibrant, modern country.
    — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
  • This 10-pack of plastic melon cradles was a lifesaver last year once my pumpkins started maturing late July.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2026
Definition of cradles
Noun
  • Likewise, Warsh has outlined the beginnings of a new communication strategy, one without the forward guidance that previously signaled to markets the path interest rates may take over the longer term.
    — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 July 2026
  • Michelle Branch is going back to her electric blue beginnings.
    — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026
Definition of beginnings
Noun
  • In a small number of cases, similar ancestries were grouped together.
    — Albert Sun, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • Eastern and western ancestries in Karelian Mesolithic dogs suggest that two lineages diverged during the Paleolithic.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
Definition of ancestries
Noun
  • The son of a major leaguer turned long-time coach and brother of the Yankees’ top prospect, Jacob has perhaps one of the best pedigrees in this draft class.
    — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 11 July 2026
  • Project Hail Mary’s position will also be tested against new releases from filmmakers with stronger Oscar pedigrees.
    — Sophia Morano, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of pedigrees
Noun
  • The seal texts often introduced the owners with their names, genealogies, gender, professions and hometowns.
    — Serdar Yalçin, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Transcripts, grammars, vocabularies, dictionaries, glyph studies, botanical studies, commentaries, articles, editions of codices, correspondence, maps, charts, drawings, photographs, Maya Society materials, genealogies of Maya families, and Mayan glyphs on moveable type.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of genealogies

Browse Nearby Words

originators
origins
orison
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Cite this Entry

“Origins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/origins. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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